"And tak your love, now, Lady Elspat,45
And my best blessin' you baith upon;
For gin he be your first true love,
He is my eldest sister's son.
"There stands a steed in my stable,
Cost me baith gold and white mony;50
Ye's get as mickle o' my free land
As he'll ride about in a summer's day."
THE LOVERS QUARREL; OR, CUPIDS TRIUMPH.
"This 'pleasant History,' which 'may be sung to the tune of Floras Farewell,' is here republished from a copy printed at London for F. Cotes and others, 1677, 12mo. bl. 1., preserved in the curious and valuable collection of that excellent and most respected antiquary Antony à Wood, in the Ashmolean Museum; compared with another impression, for the same partners, without date, in the editor's possession. A different copy of the poem, more in the ballad form, was published, and may be found among the king's pamphlets in the British Museum. Both copies are conjectured to have been modernized, by different persons, from some common original, which has hitherto eluded the vigilance of collectors, but is strongly suspected to have been the composition of an old North country minstrel.
"The full title is, The Lovers Quarrel: or Cupids Triumph: being the pleasant history of Fair Rosamond of Scotland. Being daughter to the Lord Arundel, whose love was obtained by the valour of Tommy Pots: who conquered the Lord Phenix, and wounded him, and after obtained her to be his wife. Being very delightful to read." Ritson, Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry, p. 135.
Of all the lords in Scotland fair,
And ladies that been so bright of blee,
There is a noble lady among them all,
And report of her you shall hear by me.